why should one desire the Holy Spirit:

1. As an aid in communication & allow a higher level of worship 1Co 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. For no one hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries. 1Co 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 1Co 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the mind. 1Co 14:16 Else, if you bless in the spirit, he occupying the place of the unlearned, how will he say the amen at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you say? 1Co 14:17 For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not built up. Heb 5:11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to be explained since you are dull of hearing. If we do not stay close to God, out ears do become plugged where we cannot hear Him as much as we do the world. Trained senses come from practice and are the mark of the mature Christian.

2. To defeat weakness (strengthen faith) and pave the way for prophecy, healing and power Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

3. To edify and build up the spirits of the saved Jud 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 1Co 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for building up, and exhortation, and comfort. 1Co 14:4 The one speaking in a tongue builds himself up, but he prophesying builds up a church.

4. For guidance to know the hidden counsel (truth) of God (past, present & future) Pro 20:5 Wisdom in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. Joh 7:37 And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Joh 7:38 He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” 1Co 2:6 But, we speak wisdom among those who are perfect; yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, that come to nothing. 1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, which God has hidden, predetermining it before the world for our glory; 1Co 2:8 which none of the rulers of this world knew (for if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory). 1Co 2:9 But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,” nor has it entered into the heart of man, “the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1Co 2:10 But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1Co 2:11 For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man within him? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 1Co 2:12 But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God. 1Co 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which 116 the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1Co 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. For no one hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries. Joh 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears, He shall speak. And He will announce to you things to come.

5. To give rest and refreshing 2Co 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. Fellowship means an intimate communion for exchange of thoughts and feelings. Isa 28:11 for with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people. Isa 28:12 To whom He said, This is the rest; cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing. Yet they were not willing to hear.

6. To make intercession to Christ and the Father for the saved Rom 8:27 And He searching the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Thus the Holy Spirit interprets those desires that are in agreement with the Father’s will and sends them, by spirit, to Christ at the right hand of the Father. He, in turn, as our advocate speaks to the Father concerning us and the Father responds. Therefore, the entire person of God is involved and in agreement, in unity, with answered prayer.

7. To glorify Christ Joh 16:14 He will glorify Me, for He will receive of Mine and will announce it to you.

8. As a confirmation to others and ourselves that God is in us 1Co 14:22 So that tongues are not a sign to those who believe, but to those who do not believe. But prophesying is not to those who do not believe, but to those who believe. Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

9. To convict the world of sin, God’s righteousness and judgement Joh 16:8 And when that One comes, He will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment. Allow God’s truth to dictate experience instead of the other way around. Jas 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever desires to be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Jas 4:5 Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The spirit that dwells in us yearns to envy? We cannot love the world and have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. 2Co 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. Examples of the Holy Spirit’s communications: Act 8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and join yourself to this chariot. Act 10:19 And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are looking for you. Act 10:20 Therefore arise and go down and go with them without doubting, for I have sent 117 them. Act 11:27 And in these days prophets from Jerusalem came to Antioch. Act 11:28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and signified by the Spirit that there should be great famine over the world (which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar). Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, So, then, separate Barnabas and Saul to Me for the work to which I have called them. Act 15:27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also announce to you the same things by word. Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things: Act 16:6 And coming through the Phrygian and the Galatian region; and by the Holy Spirit being forbidden to speak the Word in Asia; Act 16:7 having come to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia. But the Spirit did not allow them. Act 18:5 And when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. Act 19:21 After these things were ended, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have come there, I must also see Rome. Act 20:21 testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Act 20:22 And now, behold, I am going bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall happen to me there, Act 20:23 except that the Holy Spirit witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. Rom 9:1 I tell the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, Rom 9:2 that I have great heaviness and continual pain in my heart. Psa 28:1 A Psalm of David. I will cry to You, O Jehovah; my Rock, do not be deaf to me, lest, if You be silent to me, I become like those who go down into the pit. Without a closeness to God and the Holy Spirit we feel no different than those who are unsaved and destined for hell. God desires to have fellowship with us as much as we need His closeness. God’s desire is for all to receive all that He has to give. Only we will limit how much we receive by how much we understand, earnestly desire and have faith for. Mar 16:15 And He said to them, Go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation. Mar 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mar 16:17 And miraculous signs will follow to those believing these things: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues; Mar 16:18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well. Paul also encouraged the church: 1Co 14:5 I wish all of you to speak in languages, but rather that you may prophesy; for greater is he prophesying than he speaking in tongues, He was not against speaking in tongues, but was encouraging how it was proper, in public ministry with tongues, to explain the meaning of what was said so that all might be built up. 118 To be intimate with God requires good communication. There are two types of speaking in tongues. Both types give evidence of the overwhelming power and presence of God. Corporate speaking in tongues is for instruction, encouragement and praise in the body of Christ, The Church. When an interpretation of the tongues is given, it provides clarity of what God is speaking to the church. There should be no conflict or confusion. When another’s tongues are interpreted differently from what has been given us at that moment by the Spirit, we are to remain silent to prevent confusion. Thus, it is also very important that we truly believe that God desires to speak through us at any given time or else we should remain silent for fear that God’s true message will not be given. 1Co 14:30 If a revelation is revealed to another sitting by, let the first be silent. 1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Personal speaking in tongues allows one to speak God’s will without the worries of how to pray or what to say. There is freedom from self doubts and misconceptions. One can affirm God’s will without even knowing what is being said. There is total freedom from earthly cares and the influence of sin. That which is said is guaranteed to be heard and answered because it represents God’s pure and perfect will.